by Jill Burzynski | Feb 20, 2017 | Blog, Caregiver Issues, End of Life Planning
We at Burzynski Elder Law often encourage our chronically ill clients to consider obtaining a hospice consult. We are fortunate in Collier County to have two excellent hospice options: Avow and Vitas Healthcare. Both hospices offer invaluable support for both the...
by Jill Burzynski | Nov 13, 2016 | Blog, Caregiver Issues, Uncategorized
We have long advised our clients against signing admission agreements with nursing homes or assisted living facilities which require pre-dispute arbitration. We strongly feel that if one of our clients were to have to sue a facility, the case should be heard by a...
by Jill Burzynski | Sep 6, 2016 | Blog, Caregiver Issues, Health Care Advocacy, Uncategorized
In January 2013 a Settlement Agreement was entered between the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and a class of Plaintiffs who sued CMS for denying coverage based upon an erroneous “improvement standard” that Medicare beneficiaries had to...
by Jill Burzynski | Jun 3, 2016 | Blog, Caregiver Issues, Financing Long Term Care, Medicaid, Trusts
Many clients come to us with Living Trusts (also known as “Revocable Trusts”) in place that were prepared 10-15 years ago when the amount that one could pass to beneficiaries without paying estate taxes was significantly lower. Trusts were needed back then to minimize...
by Jill Burzynski | Apr 22, 2016 | Blog, Caregiver Issues, Estate Planning, Financing Long Term Care, Health Care Advocacy, Medicaid, Uncategorized
Life Care Planning is a unique practice model that combines traditional elder law including Medicaid and Estate Planning with care advocacy. A few years ago, I received a call from a financial planner about one of her clients. She started the conversation with “I...
by Jill Burzynski | Apr 15, 2016 | Blog, Caregiver Issues, Health Care Advocacy, Uncategorized
Knowing your obligations when hiring home care workers is critical. Complying with the Fair Labor Standards Act is required. Even if you use and agency, you may become personally liable for overtime or minimum wage violations. Most home care workers are actually...